26/09/2012

(1) “Target US diplomats: Qaida to Muslims” DUBAI: “The Yemen-based branch of al-Qaida urgedMuslimsto step up protests and kill more US diplomats in Muslim countries after a US-made film mocking Prophet Muhammad which it said was another chapter in the 'crusader wars' against Islam.” (The Times of India, Sep 16, with reference to Reuters, 6-column headline) (2) “US on high alert after Qaida threat” DUBAI: “Washington ordered all non-essential staff to leave Tunisia and Sudan after its embassies were stormed by Muslims protesting an anti-Islam movie and as al-Qaida called for more attacks on American targets.” (The Times of India, Sep 17, with reference to AFP, 5-column headline) (3) “Al-Qaida calls for attacks on US diplomats”CAIRO: Al-Qaida's branch in North Africa on Tuesday called for attacks on US diplomats” (The Times of India, Sep 17, with reference to AFP, 2-column headline).

This is another mischief

One mischief against the Muslim Ummah is which an American film-maker has committed in his film “The Innocence of Muslims” and the other mischief is that the US administration is doing and international media is advancing. That is, a terrorist group with the name al-Qaida exists even today; it issues directions to Muslims from time to time and Muslims, acting upon its directions, do violent acts the world over. After the mischief of the American film came to light and Muslims started reacting to it, the name of al-Qaida is being dished out with such regularity that non-Muslim readers and listeners might believe that al-Qaida does exist even today and it holds so much command on world Muslims that once they receive its command they go on killing spree. While the fact remains that any group with the name al-Qaida does not exist anywhere. It got disintegrated a few years after the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The group working with this name today is either assumed or created by America. America has also fabricated many groups in the name of Taliban.

And this Indian media

Our Indian media also goes on dishing out to its readers and viewers the impression that Muslims work under the influence of terrorist groups. The recent example is the incident of Azad Maidan of Mumbai, where Muslims had gathered in August to express solidarity with the oppressed Muslims of Burma and Assam. They were totally peaceful. The proceedings of the conference were also peaceful. It was all that at the end of the conference some people expressed their anger on the media vans under some planned conspiracy or under charged emotions. And this gave the media, police and mischief-mongers a golden opportunity to raise voice against Muslims. The media raised the sky on its head. Besides the reporters and anchors, the “experts” participating in the discussions did not stick to truth and honesty as usual. The mobile and internet messages were declared international Muslim conspiracy. Efforts were made to give the impression that Muslims always live under the influence of disruptionists. There was also a message hidden in this din and bustle that now Muslims should bear oppression and excesses silently. And this would be the result if they raised voice. These two incidents should be read together.

22/09/2012

This is not known how sad
the Sangh Parivar felt at the demise of K.S. Sudarshan (Raipur, 15th
September). But the Muslims, who on August 20 would have heard or read the news
from Bhopal that on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr this senior leader of RSS
wanted to go to Tajul Masajid to “say” the Eid Prayer or to offer Eid greetings
to Muslim “brethren” but his staff and police officers kept him from doing so
on the pretext of traffic jam and the Eid prayer having finished, and later on
former chief minister Babulal Gaur took him to the house of one of his Muslim
acquaintances where he offered Eid greetings to Muslim “brethren”, enjoyed
sewaiyan and expressed his heartfelt pleasure on the occasion, must have felt
wishful sadness. No comment on this act of Mr. Sudarshan was seen in English
and Hindi newspapers save and except that he was presented ill and as a patient
of forgetfulness during the August 20 incident; however certain Urdu newspapers
did comment on it. The basis of such comments was the idea that this act of Mr.
Sudarshan could not be due to forgetfulness. There must have been something
about Salat, Eid and Muslims in the back of his mind.

The SMS of a friend

Now a friend from
Maharashtra sent an SMS saying: “On August 20 Sudarshanji wanted to express his
natural feelings by offering the Eid prayer and witnessing the Eid gathering at
Tajul Masajid in Bhopal but his men banned his personal freedom; at last he
felt angry and left the world. One of my friends had invited Sudarshanji, when
he was sarsanghchalak, to Islam by writing a detailed letter to him.
Sudarshanji had replied to the letter and sent a car to him (for further
discussion). The deceased did not make any formal declaration but has given a
message to Sangh Parivar. How I wish they realize this and Muslims too have the
courage to do Dawah” (Mobile Message, September 17 – 09313522885). The feeling
seems to be quite right. Whether a person is victim of forgetfulness or of weak
memory due to old age, if he talks something unexpected, that talk indeed has
some meaning. The feelings he thus expresses are related to what he used to do
during his days of strong memory and consciousness.

This is quite possible

Former sarsanghchalak of
RSS, Kuppalli Sitaramayya Sudarshan was a follower of hardline Hindutva
ideology. This stand of his on the various issues came to the fore from time to
time during his sarsanghchalak days (2000 to 2009). He also expressed the Sangh
stand on certain issues related to Muslims quite emphatically. He also kept on
issuing harsh statements on some national issues. Sometimes he also talked
against BJP leaders and their viewpoint. In an interview he declared Indira
Gandhi as by then the most successful Prime Minister. Thus he was
straightforward in his statements. But after retiring from the leadership of
Sangh he remained somewhat silent. It is expected that during those days he
might have pondered over the realities of life and the universe with much
mental freedom and he must have studied Islamic beliefs and views. The SMS from
Maharashtra also supports this view. Therefore it is quite expected that during
his last days Mr. Sudarshan might have been reviewing his views on Islam and
Islamic life that he had developed as a result of his long association with the
Sangh.

20/09/2012

“We, at Tehelka, were convinced our
story would result in a nation-wide uproar…. We thought the lies of the Modi
administration on the Godhra train burning incident would be exposed. We
thought that people would demand immediate action. Modi would be forced to
resign. The killers would be put behind bars. And victims would get justice.
How wrong we were!....” Thus complains Ashish Khetan (Tehelka, Sep 8), who staked his life for months together in 2007 to
gather such vital information and make the killers, tormenters and hooligans
confess their crimes of barbarism on camera. This story was presented on
Tehelka online and print as well as Aaj Tak TV channel in October 2007. Statements
of the killers were indeed heart-rending but these barbarians were relishing in
narrating them, as if they had accomplished something great and brave.

Impact of this report on court verdict

Indeed the revelations were so stunning
that they ought to have jolted the entire country. But silence prevailed upon
the nation. Ashish Khetan and his colleagues experienced mental torture when
some people cast doubt on this very intention. Among them were certain groups
of human rights, and some Muslim leaders too. Those who were nurturing doubt
were of the view that the sting operation was initiated by Narendra Modi
himself so that the latter might get more popularity in the then upcoming
Assembly elections. And that the Tehelka team, in return, received hefty amount
from Modi. But many Muslim leaders and human rights activists including Teesta
Setalvad had welcomed the Tehelka report heartily and on its basis moved the
court cases against the killers further. Now, it is said, there is a great role
of the Tehelka sting operation report in the verdict pronounced by a Special
Court at Ahmedabad on August 29 against 32 accused of Naroda Patiya massacre;
it is a matter of satisfaction for Ashish Khetan and his colleagues,
notwithstanding the entire country’s indifferent attitude towards it.

Why were the doubts nurtured?

In fact there were also some causes of
nurturing doubts on the Tehelka report. (1) The Modi administration was not
seen worried of this sting operation. (2) In the Assembly elections held two
months since the Tehelka revelations Modi’s party once again came to power. (3)
Some concern over this report was found in most parts of the country but its
effect in Gujarat was pretty little. (4) In the Tehelka report the reality
behind Godhra train burning was also revealed and it was said that that
incident was the first link in the great conspiracy, which was made an excuse
for killing and destruction. Muslims were not responsible for the train burning.
But Aaj Tak and Headlines Today did not focus this part of the Tehelka Report.
Their total focus was on the looting, killing and barbarism of the killers
which proved a source of satisfaction for those Gujaratis who had presumed that
it was Muslims who had burnt the train. Now it is not known who were
responsible for presenting the sting operation report in this light. - However the complain of Ashish is right in
the sense that the rest of the country also did not take notice of his report as
it should have. In our view also media and political circles did not give this
report as much importance as they give to an ordinary drama of terrorism. And
this disquieting situation is for journalists like Ashish Khetan to investigate
and analyse.

13/09/2012

Thursday, September 6, Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport Nagpur. Scene: A group of terrorists captures an international airline and wants to capture it. On the other hand, a team of armed commandos is taking action to get the aircraft freed. All the terrorists have donned skull caps viz. white round woven caps and long shirts. That is, no one has any doubt in their being “Muslim”. The commandos belong to the city police and Agricultural Security Force. But this was not a real incident of terrorism or hijacking rather a mock drill to teach how to save an aircraft when “Islamic terrorists” make a bid to capture and blast or hijack it. Also, there was a message being floated that only “Muslim terrorists” and none else can hijack an aircraft. This was indeed a blunt but very serious and dangerous mischief and it was but quite natural for Muslims to protest against it. Therefore, protesting against it, some Muslim organisations sent a letter to the state home minister RR Patil. (Sunday Times of India, September 9)

Will it yield some result?But, will this protest yield some result? Inference says no, a big no; for whatever is happening is in accordance with the set policy. Had the voice and protest by Muslims and human rights groups been effective enough, the unprecedented arrests of 18 Muslim youth from Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra had not continued for five days since August 29. These arrests took place at a time when countrywide protests against implicating Muslim youths for alleged terror acts had been staged for the last few months. The message is that however serious Muslims’ protest might be, government agencies would do whatever they want to. And no one has any right to question this act of theirs. All will have to accept whomsoever they declare as terrorist and capture them. Everyone will have to accept the stories or statements attributed to them. In this very city of Nagpur, a few years ago, the police shot down some youth allegedly for attacking the RSS headquarters. When a group of responsible citizens questioned it, the police mocked at and denigrated them.

Where is Muslim leadership?Does this recent incident in Nagpur not strengthen the idea that the image of entire Muslim community is being projected as a terrorist group? Up till now it had been witnessed in films and TV serials and conscientious Muslims, having taken it as the professional and TRP need of professionals, used to relieve their mental agony; but what will you say when security agencies too started doing this. – As for the Muslim leadership, the first reality is that it does not exist in an organised and united form. And even if it is present in the form of scattered groups, it seems it stands tired. And, after all, how far can this poor leadership go on to the path of protest. Otherwise the barbaric arrests of 18 Muslims and stories and statements attributed to them are not so trivial that a living and conscientious community remains silent. – The problem is only that they see only whatever is visible, and have nothing to do with what all this is and why it is happening, what mentality is working behind it and with which objective and planning, with which methodology, and wherefrom they are getting weapons. And those who are doing all this against the Muslim community are confident that this is patriotism while the fact remains that this is detrimental to the nation. In this regard, Muslim leadership has to play dual role: to deliver the community from this trial and to save the country from her friend-like enemies.

10/09/2012

Question: “So you think ‘Islamic terrorism’ is a bogey created by the West?” – Answer: “More than that. We in India tend to regard the West as the font of wisdom. Whatever their distorted concept of Islam, we copy it verbatim. But the concept of jihad has nothing to do with terrorism. Terrorism is a modern phenomenon. Jihad has existed for hundreds of years. The West has created the image of a bearded man in a kurta with a Kalashnikov in hand, hell-bent on converting people to Islam or killing them.” This straightforward remark is of NC Asthana, Inspector General, CRPF COBRA, and his wife Anjali Nirmal. Mrs. Asthana holds a doctorate in police administration. They have written a book in English entitled “India's Internal Security: The Actual Concerns”. Kunal Majumder, Reporter of Tehelka magazine, talked to them on the subject and content of the book (Tehelka.com, 1st September) in which they dauntlessly criticised the role of police, state administration and media.

That’s the West’s wayMr. Asthana’s book is not in hand; however, going through Tehelka’s interview with them makes one aware perfectly well of the contents of the book and the views of the writers. Before the above mentioned question, Tehelka asked them: “You have also written about how Islam has been driven towards terrorism.” They replied: “Yes, we have written about it in one of our earlier books on urban terrorism. We have a history of communal riots. But we never attributed terrorism to Muslims. That’s the West’s way. America always needs a hate symbol — first the Germans, then the Japanese, then the communists.” One very candid opinion Mrs and Mr Asthana expressed is that “Muslims in India have a reason to believe they are being persecuted”. In this regard he has mentioned unprecedented arrests of innocent Muslim youth in Hyderabad, Jaipur and Malegaon, etc. As for media, they say it is biased against Muslims.

Voice of free conscienceAmong the officers responsible for maintaining law and order in the country in recent years, Mr. Asthana is the second officer who has made this candid averment with a sense of justice and honesty. Before him, a high police officer of U.P., Vibhuti Narain Rai, knocked at the conscience of countrymen by writing a book on the subject a few years ago. The duty of high security officers is to gather information on factual basis, inform higher officers about them and take action accordingly. But it is not so in our country. Here such officers have to work usually according to the set policy. Then their personal leaning also works. In this situation, if some government officer pinpoints the ground realities publicly while still in service, it is the voice of his conscience. Tehelka has clarified that these views of Mr. Asthana are his personal, and that he was not making this statement in his official position. However, in whatever position Mr. Asthana expressed these views undauntedly and straightforwardly, he deserves congratulation. All the believers in justice and honesty should welcome his views and in this light devise their course of action.

08/09/2012

According to the recent study of the Pew Research Centre, there are 1.6
billion Muslims in the world who are spread over different parts of the earth. And
a very large majority of them (85 to 100 per cent) are united on the
fundamental beliefs of Islam like Tauheed (Monotheism), Risalat (Prophethood)
of Muhammad and fasting in the month of Ramadhan. However, there are
differences in the interpretation and explanation of Islamic teachings on other
matters. The Centre started this study in 39 countries belonging to all the
continents in 2008, the report of which was released in the second week of
August (The Asian Age, 10th August). Sixty-seven per cent of world
Muslim population has been covered. Thirty-eight thousand people of different
countries were questioned in 80 languages. At some places more religiosity was
found among 40-plus people than among the new generation while in some other
countries new generation was found more religious and enthusiastic. In some
areas religion has fundamental place in the life of 8 out of 10 persons while in
other areas religion is of much importance for 7 out of 10 persons.

Plan to subjugate the world

This Pew Centre is an important study centre of America. It studies the
followers of different religions as well as their cultures and trends so that
the American administration might be aware of them and chalk out its policies
in its light. Its main target is Islam and the Muslim Ummah. It has published
its reports in this regard earlier also. It is all probable that some sensitive
and delicate parts of these reports are brought to the notice of American
administration only; and also recommendations to tackle the situation must have
been presented. Whatever the methodology, this work of an American centre
cannot be purposeless and without any interest. A great planning lies behind
it. Ever since the United States of America has attained the status of super
power and has come under the grip of Zionist Jews, it is busy overpowering the peoples
of the world. Then whatever community or country or way of life it found as its
rival, it declared them as its enemy and started devising conspiracies against
them.

The feeling of toughness of the
present “enemy”

America did three experiments during the last century. First it
targeted the Germans and their government; then it campaigned against Japan and
the Japanese; and then it fought against the Soviet Union and its communist economic
system; and now it is against Islam and the Muslim Ummah. However America, with
the help of Pew Centre, Rand Corporation and other such centres, has realised
perfectly well that this enemy (way of life) is quite different from earlier
enemies; it is not weak and hollow like them; and as such facing it would
require ever newer methods and strategies, which can be used all at a time and
also one by one. Hence the range of its strategies runs right from enticing Muslim
public, intellectuals as well as Ulema to attacking the Custodian of Two Holy
Mosques. – The recent report of Pew Centre is telling the American policymakers
that Faith in Monotheism and Prophethood is the strongest and most consolidated
basis and the unifying force of the people of this Ummah belonging to the various
regions, languages, colours and tribes having different food habits. Now it is
to be seen what changes America makes in its strategies.

05/09/2012

There was a time when the
word “Bangladesh” used to sound pleasant to the ears of a large section in this
country. This section consisted of central leaders, ruling Congress, opposition
Jan Sangh leaders, and editors and reporters of English and Hindi newspapers.
Though Bangladesh was not formed by then; the preparation to form it was on;
the most restless party was Jan Sangh. Its leaders were demanding day and
night: “Recognise Bangladesh; recognise it today and now.” Although Congress
and its governments were also restless, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was
awaiting the “opportune time”. It was the year of 1971. The separation movement
in East Pakistan was at its peak; Pakistan’s army was resisting it; there was
topsy-turvy everywhere; people numbering thousands and thousands were taking
refuge in Indian regions; they were not only not being prevented but also
fervently welcomed. All the ways were being paved for them. In refugee camps
they were being provided with every kind of facility and comfort. Besides
border areas, they were spreading in the interior towns and cities as well;
they were being welcomed everywhere; during those days they were being termed
as “our Bangladeshi brethren”.

And a time is this

The situation was that
crores of rupees were being collected in the name of refugee tax; documentary
films of refugees were being shown the world over to win foreign aid. At last
the will of Jan Sangh was fulfilled; it was also in fact the heartfelt desire
of Indira Gandhi. In December 1971 Bangladesh was recognised; hearing the
announcement to this effect, Jan Sangh leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee jumped up
and gave Indira Gandhi the title “Durga Devi”. This love for “Bangladeshi
brethren” continued for some years after the creation of Bangladesh. But
thereafter destructive politics started thereon. Therefore, the party that was
foremost in embracing the refugees started treating their presence as the
biggest threat and demanded with utmost seriousness their deportation. BJP
included this issue in their agenda formally and launched a campaign of hatred
against them. And thus a time came when the word “Bangladeshi” has become a
hateful word.

\

This is not our issue

In short, the issue of
presence of Bangladeshis in the country is not of Muslims; it is the creation
of the government and RSS. But the Assamese and Bangla-speaking Indian Muslims
are being harassed. Let the Muslim leadership make this fact clear to the
government. Muslim leaders in Karnataka should also meet the leaders of RSS,
BJP and Vidyarthi Parishad who spewed venom against Muslims during a rally in
Bangalore on 27th August, and tell them what the real issue is.
Those leaders were of the opinion that “four crore Bangladeshis are living in
India”. And that “Indian Muslims are increasing their population with different
methods” (The Indian Express, 28th August). The government and
Muslim leadership should take notice of it before this fresh mischief might
take ground.

01/09/2012

On the occasion of Eid al-Fitr this year an interesting news item wasrelated to Eid and Eid Prayers. It so happened that in the morning of Eidal-Fitr on 20th August former Sarsanghchalak of RSS, KS Sudarshansaid to his security staff deputed at his residence at RSS Complex Samidha thathe wanted to go to Tajul Masajid to offer the Eid Prayers. The security staffmembers were perturbed; the police was informed; police officers tried toconvince him that there was huge traffic on the roads leading to Tajul Masajidand the Eid Prayers had already been offered there. But Sudarshan stuck to hisidea. At last Urban development and administration minister Babulal Gaur,who was offering Eid greetings to Muslims outside Tajul Masajid at that time,was called in. He also told Sudarshan that Eid Prayers had already been offeredat Tajul Masajid. Then he took him to the house of one of his Muslim friendswhere Mr. Sudarshan offered Eid greetings to Muslims and enjoyed siwaiyan. The HindustanTimes (21st August) has clearly mentioned the words “namaz” andprayer while other papers used the word Eid “greetings”. However the commonthing in all the reports is that KS Sudarshan wanted to go the historical TajulMasajid that day.

A genuine question
Now a question comes to the mind quite naturally as to why the idea ofoffering prayer in a masjid occurred to a senior Sangh leader. If it was amatter of just offering Eid greetings, even then it is important and meaningfulas it never happened before. It cannot be expected of an ordinary worker ofRSS, not to say of its former chief. Most people take it as mental imbalance orforgetfulness of Mr. Sudarshan. Some reports have pointed to some specificdisease of his. It was mentioned in the very early reports of this incident,saying that recently he went out for morning walk as usual and went missing. Hewas found after a few hours. It is quite possible that it might have happened. Thishappens to octogenarians. – But despite this the incident is of extraordinaryimportance and not liable to be dismissed at first glance. It has a lot forthose studying human psychology and mental undulations.

Is it a case of unconsciousness
Mr. KS Sudarshan is from among the oldest and most important leaders ofRSS. He is a well-educated person. He must have studied the fundamental beliefsand teachings of Islam. This can be said with a sense of certainty as theworkers of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind have given Islamic literature to many Sanghleaders including Mr. Sudarshan. Jamaat men talked and exchanged views withthese leaders in prisons during the 1975 Emergency. During his tenure Mr.Sudarshan also held a dialogue with Muslim leaders and scholars. In this regardonce he had visited the headquarters of Jamiatul Ulama at Masjid Nabi. Thereforeit might be that these studies, discussions and dialogues are deeply imprintedon the unconsciousness of Sudarshan. Then it is also a fact that in the lastphase of life, when people feel the close of life, most of them brood over thephilosophy of life more freely and open-mindedly. And it cannot be said whom,when and under which circumstances the Almighty brings to the fold of theTruth.